Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills hosts events for Jewish holiday season

As the autumn Jewish holiday season approaches, Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills invites interested individuals and families in the surrounding area to join us in observing and celebrating the various holidays.  High Holiday services begin with Erev Rosh Hashanah on September 20th and full services the next two days under the direction of spiritual leader Rabbi Alfred Benjamin and Cantor Saralee Shrell-Fox.  There will be a separate Family Service on September 21st, with childcare and children’s activities each day.

This year our second annual Community High Holiday Highlight Service will be on Thursday afternoon, September 21st, led by Rabbi Benjamin from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  No ticket is required for this service, which is open to all and filled with celebration, songs, key prayers, Torah service, and the sounding of the Shofar.  This service is dedicated by the Freyer family.

Tashlich, the symbolic casting away of sins on Rosh Hashanah, will also be on the 21st at 5:30 p.m. at Turner’s Pond on Central Ave., Milton (bring your own bread), followed by a dairy pot-luck dinner at the nearby home of a member. All are invited to participate.

After Yom Kippur on September 30th, other holidays including Sukkot will follow, with special family-oriented holiday events, such as eating in the Sukkah and parading with the Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah.

All services and activities at Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills are open to the entire Jewish community, and will be held in the synagogue sanctuary at 18 Shoolman Way (off Lodge Street), Milton.  During the High Holidays there is parking for the elderly and handicapped at the synagogue, with excess parking available at the rear of St. Elizabeth Church on nearby Randolph Ave.  Otherwise overflow parking is available on Pleasant Street, with no parking allowed on Lodge or Maitland Streets. For security reasons, non-members interested in attending High Holiday services or other events are encouraged to call the Congregation office at 617-698-3394.

The Rabbi Jerome Weistrop Religious School, which provides small, twice-weekly classes, pre-school Story Hour, holiday family events, field trips and more, is accepting applications during the month of September.   Jewish children of all grade levels are encouraged to enroll and participate in a quality Jewish education.

Families interested in the religious school or the synagogue are invited to attend our Open House on Sunday, September 17th from 10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., meet Rabbi Benjamin and Education Director Nancy Mollitor, and join in a family Rosh Hashanah Celebration.  First-time visitors who call ahead to attend the Open House may receive complimentary seats for one High Holiday service.

Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills is an egalitarian synagogue and welcomes interfaith families.  For further information about services, events or membership, please call the Congregation office at 617-698-3394, email: [email protected] or visit www.BethShalomBlueHills.org.